DES MOINES, Iowa – The Illinois State softball team was unable to overcome defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake in Friday's doubleheader. The Redbirds fell 8-0 in the first game of the twin bill, before the Bulldogs fought off ISU's comeback in game two for a 3-2 win.
BIRD BITS AT DRAKE (L, 8-0 in 5 innings) – GAME 1
Top Performers:
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS AT DRAKE (L, 8-0 in 5 innings) – GAME 1
- Drake scratched a trio of runs across in the bottom of the second inning, but Ali Domkuski's first strikeout of the game slammed the door on the frame to leave a runner in scoring position.
- Emme Olson drew a walk off of Drake's Nicole Newman for the Redbirds' first base runner of the game in the top of the third.
- Outfielder Riley Hale extended her on-base streak to five games with a lead-off single – ISU's first hit of the game – in the fourth, but Newman fanned the next three batters to leave the senior stranded.
- Domkuski and the Redbird defense responded by sending the Bulldogs down in order in the third and fourth innings.
- Drake pushed five runs across in the home half of the fifth to take the series-opening contest 8-0.
BIRD BITS AT DRAKE (L, 3-2) – GAME 2
Top Performers:
- Allison Spence: 1-for-3, R, RBI, HR
- Shannon Felde: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
- Andrea Coursey: 1-for-3, R
- Morgan Day: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
BY THE NUMBERS / KEY INNINGS AT DRAKE (L, 3-2) – GAME 2
- Drake capitalized on an ISU error in the opening frame to hold an early 1-0 lead.
- The Redbirds leveled the game at one-all in the top of the second, as Allison Spence went yard with the first ball sent in to her. Two more errors by ISU in the home half of the second helped Drake break the scoring open to hold a 3-1 advantage.
- Riley Hale reached base for the sixth-consecutive game with a two-out single in the top of the third.
- ISU tallied three-straight hits, as a rocket up the middle by Shannon Felde brought the Redbirds within one to force a pitching change by Drake.
- The Redbirds sat the Bulldogs down in order in the fifth and the sixth, but Drake fought off the Redbirds' rally in the seventh to hold on for the 3-2 win.
ON DECK
Illinois State will wrap up the three-game series at Drake tomorrow with a 12 p.m. first pitch at Buel Field.
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